Greek is the word in torch relay

Sydney's Greek community will be the focal point of celebrations when the Athens Olympic torch relay touches down in Sydney on June 4.

But don't think you'll have a chance to get cosy with it - it's in town for only 24 hours.

"This is a global torch relay for the first time," said Bob Elphinston, secretary-general of the Australian Olympic Committee. "We'd really like to have it available in each of the capital cities."

The olive wood and magnesium torch will be lit in Athens in late May before flying to Sydney, where organisers hope the Prime Minister will greet it.

It will then head to the city, where Cathy Freeman will be its first bearer before it heads to Bondi, then Brighton-le-Sands, where a lunchtime celebration is planned in one of the hubs of Sydney's Greek community.

It will head across the harbour, it is hoped by rowing boat, and will end its journey at Homebush Bay where it will ignite the cauldron at a Greek-themed festival.

About 150 bearers from Sydney will be recruited in January to run the torch an average of 300 to 500 metres, accompanied by student escort runners.

Mr Elphinston said all Australians could apply to carry the torch. "We want to be able to relive the Games," he said. "We'll also showcase some of the young athletes who will go to Athens as their first Olympics."

The torch will head to Melbourne on the Saturday and tour the city for 24 hours before going to Tokyo. All up, 10,000 runners will carry the torch through 26 cities over 35 days, before it returns to Greece for the opening ceremony on August 13.

"The torch relay route will visit every city that has held the summer Olympic Games since 1896," Mr Elphinston said.

Relays will also take place in Cairo, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and Lausanne.